USS Bass (SS-164)

USS "Bass" (SF-5/SS-164), a "Barracuda"-class submarine and one of the "V-boats", was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the bass. Her keel was laid at the Portsmouth Navy Yard. She was launched as "V-2" (SF-5) on 27 December 1924 sponsored by Mrs. Douglas E. Dismukes, wife of Captain Dismukes, and commissioned on 26 September 1925 with Lieutenant Commander G.A. Rood in command.

"V-2" was assigned to Submarine Division 20 and cruised along the Atlantic coast and in the Caribbean Sea through November 1927 when the Division sailed for San Diego, California, arriving 3 December 1927. "V-2" operated with the fleet on the West Coast, in the Hawaiian Islands, and in the Caribbean Sea until December 1932.

Renamed "Bass" 9 March 1931, in April she was assigned to Submarine Division 12 (SubDiv 12). On 1 July, her hull classification symbol was changed from SF-5 to SS-164. On 2 January 1933, she was assigned to Rotating Reserve Submarine Division 15, San Diego. "Bass" rejoined the fleet again in July and cruised along the West Coast, in the Canal Zone, and in the Hawaiian Islands until January 1937. She then departed the West Coast and arrived at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 18 February 1937, where she went out of commission in reserve 9 June.

"Bass" was recommissioned at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on 5 September 1940 and assigned to Submarine Division 9, Atlantic Fleet. Between February and November 1941, she operated along the New England coast and made two trips to St. George, Bermuda. She arrived at Coco Solo on 24 November and was on duty there when the Japanese launched their attack on Pearl Harbor.

During 1942 "Bass" was attached to Submarine Division 31, Squadron 3, Atlantic Fleet. Between March and August, while based at Coco Solo, she made four war patrols in the Pacific, off Balboa. On 17 August 1942, while at sea, a fire broke out in the after battery room and quickly spread to the after torpedo room and starboard main motor, resulting in the death of 25 enlisted men by asphyxiation [ cite web|url=http://www.oneternalpatrol.com/uss-bass-164.htm |title=On Eternal Patrol - USS Bass (SS-164) |accessdate=2008-08-11 ] The following day USS|Antaeus|AS-21|3 arrived to assist the submarine and escorted her into the Gulf of Dulce, Costa Rica. Both proceeded to Balboa.

"Bass" remained in the Canal Zone until October 1942 when she departed for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, arriving on 19 October. After undergoing repairs at Philadelphia Navy Yard "Bass" proceeded to New London, Connecticut, where she conducted secret experiments off Block Island in December 1943. She was again in Philadelphia Yard for repairs from January to March 1944. During the remainder of the year she was attached to Submarine Squadron 1, Atlantic Fleet, and operated out of New London in the area between Long Island and Block Island. "Bass" was decommissioned at the Naval Submarine Base New London 3 March 1945 and expended as a target 18 March 1945.

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b3/bass-i.htm

External links

* [http://www.oneternalpatrol.com/uss-bass-164.htm On Eternal Patrol: USS "Bass"]
* [http://www.wreckhunters.net The WRECK HUNTERS] Group of wreck divers visiting the wreck.